Modular system for a continuous electrolytic deposition process for wire



Sept 1968 E. w. JONES ETAL 3,399,685

MODULAR SYSTEM F A CONTI NUOUS ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSIT PROCESS FOR WIRE Filed Feb. 2, 1966 JOSEPH s. MATHIAS VLADIMIR R. wuss ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,399,685 MODULAR SYSTEM FOR A CONTINUOUS ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION PROCESS FOR WIRE Ernest W. Jones, Philadelphia, Pa., Joseph S. Mathias, Riverton, N.J., and Vladimir R. Weiss, Audubon, Pa., assignors to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 524,587 11 Claims. (Cl. 134-64) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wire plating module which includes a static agitating means. The static agitating means is arranged to provide a maximum turbulence by providing staggered conduits which include radial input passageways and radial output passageways arranged orthogonally thereto. Maximum turbulence is required in the plating of an alloy since one constituent thereof plates out faster than the other constituents and the extreme turbulence prevents the depletion of the faster plating constituent.

This invention relates to a modular system for treating wire and, in particular, to a modular system for a continuous multi-stage process for electroplating wire. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular system for the continuous electrodeposition of a thin film of magnetic alloy on a beryllium-copper wire for use in computer memories.

In a co-pending application by one of the co-inventors hereof, Joseph S. Mathias, entitled, Magnetic Wire Suitable for Computer Use and Method of Making Same, filed Mar. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 443,399, and assigned to assignee of this application, there is described a method of producing magnetic wire suitable for computer use, including the steps of electrocleaning, rinsing, acid etching, rinsing, copper plating, rinsing, and nickel-iron plating. The invention in the Mathias application is directed to a method of producing magnetic Wire having improved reproducible physical and magnetic properties. In particular, non-magnetic beryllium-copper wire is subjected to a nitric acid etching operation for the removal of oxides from its surface by emersing or passing the wire through a nitric acid etchant bath.

The etched wire is then passed through a water rinse and subsequently is subjected to a copper plating operation. Following, the copper-plated wire is passed through a water rinse. Subsequently, the wire is subjected to an electroplating operation, producing a film of magnetic material thereon, such as a coating consisting essentially of nickel, about 81% by weight; iron, about 19% by weight; and a trace of cobalt, about 0.1% by weight.

Cleansing, rinsing, etching, rinsing, copper-plating, rinsing, nickel-iron plating, etc. is, desirably, continuously performed in a manner as to minimize bending and dragging of the wire. Desirably, the wire is pulled off a reel by suitable means so that the wire passes therefrom, through the cleaning, rinsing, etching, rinsing, and plating steps under substantially zero stress with a minimum of bending.

Patented Sept. 3, 1968 The wire moves through the etching, plating, and rinsing stations at a substantially constant rate at about 3 inches per minute, concurrently with a passage of about 800 ma. bias current through the wire. Higher processing rates are possible, e.g., in excess of 9 inches per minute, depending upon the results desired. The bias current continuously passes through wire during processing and serves to set up a magnetic field around the wire which circumferentially orients the easy direction of the electrodeposited magnetic nickel-iron coating. During the electrodeposition of the magnetic coating on the wire, a skewed coil current of about to milliamperes is passed through a coil encompassing the plating cell. The skewed coil current serves to set up a field which cancels the earths field at a plating location and any stray fields.

Thus, it is desirable to produce magnetic wire having improved reproducible physical and magnetic properties.

In producing Wires suitable for computer use, it may or may not be desirable to have a pretreatment of a particular type of acid etching, a particular type of copper plating, electrocleaning and the like. Hence, for different applications, different treating operations may be desirable.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel module which is useful for the treating, plating, rinsing, or chemical treatment of wire.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel modular system which is relatively compact and useful for the continuous multistage process of electroplating wire, and in particular, for the electrodeposition of the magnetic alloy onto Wire for use in computer memories, which system is relatively leak-proof and susceptible of ease of alignment and which system is adaptable to process changes wherein modules can be added or removed as desired.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a modular system for the continuous electrodeposition of a thin film of magnetic alloy on a 0.005 inch berylliumcopper wire for use in computer memories is constructed of a number of identical modular units which are pinned together, the number of units in a system being limited only by the number of steps in the particular process.

The basic modular system can be machined from a single block of plastic material, for example, plexiglass. Other suitable materials can be used, if desired. The module is designed for flexibility so that it can be used for plating, rinsing or chemical treatment. The module can contain a single cell and fit into a single wire system or it can contain several adjacent cells and form the basic unit of a multiwire system for processing more than one wire at a time.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the module is machined from a solid rectangular piece of plastic. The cell chambers are holes drilled through the block horizontally, and the liquid inlet and liquid outlet are vertical. An individual cell chamber contains a separate polytetrafluoroethylene insert which forms the actual cell, as described later. An inlet is threaded to accept an input hose adapter which contains a builtin anode for the electroplating operation. An outlet empties into a reservoir which relieves the back pressure caused by the rush of liquid through the cells system. Each cell chamber is also connected to the reservoir by a small diameter angular hole on each side of the cell insert to drain any liquid which escapes through the ends of the cell insert. The reservoir outlet extends beyond the bottom surface of the block and becomes a threaded tube which is adapted for a special hose fitting. The vacuum created inside the cell unit can be relieved by two small diameter vent holes which are drilled through the top of the module directly into the cell chamber, one on each side of the insert. A cell insert is designed to provide maximum solution agitation at the wire surface providing a vortex action. Each insert, which acts as a static agitating means, has an upper slotted area which serves as a manifold for feeding liquid through two rows of holes, for example, six holes on each row. The two rows are at right angles and are 45 from vertical. The holes are alternated from one row to the other along the length of the insert and are directed into the center bore. Each inlet hole is matched by an outlet hole which is orthogonal to it. A slotted area on the bottom of the insert acts as an exit manifold. Each end of the cell insert is fitted with an end plate which serves to retain the liquid as well as to guide the wire.

In an assembled modular plating system, the modules are pinned together so that the cell chambers are abutted against each other forming a continuous line. The cell chambers in adjacent modules are separated by wafer-like polytetrafluroethylene plugs which fit closely into recesses in the front and back ends of the module. These plugs serve to support and guide the wire, and, in addition, aid in aligning the overall system. The four exposed edges of the module in an assembled system are cut out in such a manner as to permit adjacent modules to be pinned together at each of the four corners.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, together with its construction and mode of operation, will become more apparent from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a multiwire plating module in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view, taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating, inter alia, a front view of a static agitator means, together with associated end plates;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a static agitator means together with associated end plates, partly in crosssection, in an exploded view;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the static agitator means taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical view illustrating a plurality of modules coupled together in a serial manner.

By way of illustration, there is shown in the figures a module suitable for treating a plurality of wires 12, one of which wires 12 is illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 2.

The module 10 includes a housing 14 having a horizontal passageway 16 through which the wire 12 passes. The passageway 16 can be recessed, at the front and rear, to accommodate matching plugs 18 and 20 respectively, which plugs 18 and 20 have an orifice 21 therethrough for the passage, support, and guidance of wire.

For a three stage system for plating three wires simultaneously, the plugs 18 are designated in FIG. 1 as 18a, 18b, and 180. In a similar manner, other similar elements are designated with the a, b, and c sufiixes.

Vertical passageways 22 are provided through the housing 14 which intersects with the corresponding horizontal passageway 16. The vertical passageway 22 has an input at the top which is adapted to receive a hose adapter 24. The hose adapter 24 is fitted with suitable O-rings 26 so as to mate within the inlet of the vertical passageway 22. The outlet of the vertical passageway 22 is fitted with a threaded adapter 28. The threaded adapter 28 is fitted with suitable O-rings 30 and is threaded in order to adjust to suitable hose fittings.

A reservoir 32 is located between the intersection of the passageways 16 and 22 and the outlet of the vertical passageway 22. The reservoir 32 is relatively large compared to the diameter of the vertical passageway 22.

Angular conduits 34, 36 join the forward and rearward ends of the horizontal passageway to the reservoir 32.

A static agitating means 38 is fitted, together with mating end plates 40, 42, within the horizontal passageway 16 in cooperation with the vertical passageway 22. The static agitating means 38 and its end plates 40 and 42 are fitted intermediate the orifices or conduits 34, 36.

As shown in FIG. 2, the static agitating means comprises an H-shaped member 38 having its two ends 44, 46 joined by a crossbar 48. Each of the ends 44, 48 are formed in a manner to frictionally fit within the horizontal passageway 16 and, as illustrated, is circular in configuration so as to mate within the circular bored horizontal passageway 16. The crossbar 48 has top and bottom parallel surfaces 50, 52. A plurality of radial conduits 54a, 54c, 54e, 54g, 541 are aligned along the top surface 51 at the crossbar 48. The radial holes 54 extend through to a central bore 56. The radial conduits 54 form a angle from a vertical upward direction, as viewed in dotted lines in F IG. 4.

A plurality of radial conduits 58b, 58d, 58 5811, 58 are aligned along the top surface of the crossbar 48, extending to the central bore 56, forming a 45 counterclockwise angle with the upward vertical direction as viewed in FIG. 4. The plurality of conduits 58b, 58d, 58 5811, and 58 intersect at the bore 56 in an interlaced staggered relation with respect to the plurality of conduits 54a, 54c, 54e, 54g, 54i.

A third plurality of radial conduits a, 60c 60c, 60g, 60 illustrated at FIG. 4 as 60 and appearing away from the-viewer in FIG. 3, are aligned along the bottom surface 52 of the crossbar 48. The radial conduits 60 extend to the central bore 56 forming a135 angle clockwise to the vertical direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, wherein the center lines, when extended, of the conduits 60, intersect with the center lines, when extended, of the conduits 54 in a plane perpendicular to the drawing, as viewed in FIG. 3.

A plurality of radial conduits 62b, 62d, 62 6211, 62 are aligned along the bottom surface 52 of the crossbar 48 extending to the central bore 56 forming a 135 angle counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 4, with the vertical upward direction. The conduits 62 intersect at the bore 56 in an interlaced staggered relation with respect to the conduits 60, wherein the center lines, when extended, of the conduits 62 intersect with the center lines, when extended, of the conduits 58 in a plane perpendicular to the paper, as viewed in FIG. 3.

The conduits 62 are oriented behind the conduits 58 as viewed in FIG. 3 away from the viewer.

The end plates 42 and 40 each include a wide flange 64, having a shank 66.

Each of the end plates 40, 42 has a flange 64 which is circular in configuration so as to frictionally fit within the horizontal passageway 16. The end plates 40 and 42 each have a shank 66 with an outside diameter adapted to mate with the central bore 56 of the static agitating means 38. The shank 66 has an inner diameter suflicient to retain liquid and to guide the wire 12.

FIG. 5 illustrates a system utilizing a plurality of modules in seriatim. Modules 10a, 10b, and are coupled together by individual suitable connecting means 68, which may be, for example, a nut and bolt. Each of the modules 10a, 10b, 100 can have cut away portions, as illustrated, or be otherwise contoured to receive the suitable connecting means 68. A wire 12 can pass serially through each of the modules.

vVarious treating operations can take place within a module. For example, in one module, electrocleaning can take place. The wire can be rinsed with water in a subsequent module. In a still further adjacent module, the wire can be etched with acid. In the following module, the wire can be water rinsed. In the following adjacent module, the wire can be plated with copper. In the following module, the wire can be water rinsed. In the next module, the wire can be plated with a thin magnetic film of nickeliron alloy. Where plating operations take place, an electrode can be inserted within the hose adapter 24 to act as a cathode, for example, while electric current can be passed through the wire 12, so that the wire 12, per se, acts as an anode while simultaneously providing a circular magnetic field about the circumference of the wire 12 in known manner.

Other configurations will of course suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For example, the module can house one or more wires depending upon the number of wires it is desired to mass produce.

Small diameter vent holes 17, are coupled to horizontal passageway 16 to the upper surface of the module.

In operation, a wire 12 passes through the plug 18 along the horizontal passageway 16, through the end plate 42, through the static agitating means 38, through the end plate 40, along through the horizontal passageway 16, and out through the plug 20. Meanwhile, solution passes from a solution source (not shown) through a hose, through the hose adapter 24, through the vertical passageway 22, through the radial conduits 54a, 58b, 54c, 58a, 54a, 58 54g, 58h, 541, 58 contacts the wire 12 through a vortex action, and escapes through the radial conduits 66a, 62b, 60c, 62d, 60e, 62f, 60g, 62h, 60i, 62f, out through the bottom of the manifold of the agitating means 38, into the reservoir 32, and out through the threaded adapter 28, following which the solution, if desired, can be recirculated by suitable means, not shown. Leakage, which may take place between the end plates 49, 42 and the walls of the horizontal passageway 16, may cause solution to seep through the horizontal passageway 16. Such solution is dissipated by passage through the shunt conduits 34, 36 into the reservoir 32, which solution can be expelled through the threaded adapter 28. Pressure, which may tend to build up within the horizontal passageway 16, is relieved by the vent holes 20 which are coupled to outside atmospheric pressure.

By way of example, and not by way of limitation, each static agitating means has the following dimensions:

The two rows of each manifold are at right angles and are 45 from vertical. The holes are alternated from one row to the other along the length of the insert and are directed into the center bore. Each of these inlet holes is matched by an outlet hole which is orthogonal to it. A slotted area on the bottom of the insert acts as an exit manifold. Each end of the cell insert is fitted with an end plate which serves to retain liquid as well as to guide the wire.

The overall dimensions of a module, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, are 3% inches high, 2 inches wide, and a depth which is dependent on the number of adjacent cells in the unit. The diameter of the reservoir beneath the cells is 1 /2 inches and the length varies with the number of cells.

In an assembled modular plating system, the modules 'are pinned together so that the cell chambers are abutted against each other forming a continuous line. The cell chambers in adjacent modules are separated by wafer-like polytetrafluoroethylene plugs which fit closely into recesses in the front and back ends of the module 10. These plugs 18 and 20 serve to support and guide the wire. They also serve as the main system alignment tool. The four exposed edges of the module 10 in the assembled system are cut out in such a manner as to allow the adjacent modules to be pinned together by connecting means 68 at each of the four corners.

The basic module block can be adapted to house any necessary on-line equipment as, for example, test lIIlOdification-s.

It is desired that this invention be construed broadly and that it be limited solely by the scope of the allowed claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A module for the fluid treatment of wire comprising (a) a housing having a first passageway therethrough for the passage of wire, said first passageway having a wire inlet and a wire outlet; and a second passageway therethrough, intersecting with said first passageway, for the passage of liquid, said second passageway having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and

(b) static agitating means located within said first passageway and adapted to cooperate with fluid flow through said second passageway, said static agitating means including staggered conduits comprising radial input and output passageways wherein said respective radial input passageways are arranged at an angle and said respective radial output passageways are arranged orthogonally thereto.

2. A module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a reservoir within said second passageway located between the intersection of said passageways and said liquid outlet.

3. A module as claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing further comprises a first shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and said wire inlet with said reservoir, and a second shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and said wire outlet with said reservoir.

4. A module as claimed in claim 1 further comprising (c) a first plug, having an orifice therethrough for the passage, support, and guidance of wire, adapted to mate with said wire inlet of said housing; and

(d) a second plug, having an orifice therethrough for the passage, support, and guidance of wire, adapted to mate with said wire outlet of said housing; and

5. A module as claimed in claim 4 wherein said housing further comprises a reservoir within said second passageway located between the interesection of said passageways and said fluid outlet, a first shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and. said wire inlet with said reservoir, and a second shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and said wire outlet with said reservoir.

6. A module as claimed in claim 1 'wherein said static agitating means including staggered conduits comprises an H-shaped member having two ends joined by a crossbar and having a central bore therethrough,

each of said ends being formed in a manner to frictionally fit within said first passageway;

said crossbar having top and bottom parallel surfaces;

a first plurality of radial conduits aligned along said top surface of said crossbar, extending to said central bore, forming a angle clockwise with a direction normal to said top surface, as viewed from one of said ends;

a second plurality of radial conduits aligned along said top surface of said crossbar, extending to said central bore, forming a 45 angle counterclockwise with said direction normal, and second plurality of conduits intersecting said bore in an interlaced staggered relation with respect to said first plurality of conduits;

a third plurality of radial conduits aligned along said bottom surface of said crossbar, extending to said central bore, forming a angle clockwise with said direction normal, wherein the centerlines when extended of said third plurality of conduits intersect with the centerlines when extended of said first plurality of conduits; and a fourth plurality of radial conduits aligned along said bottom surface of said cross-bar, extending to said central bore, forming a 135 angle counter-clockwise with said direction normal, said fourth plurality of conduits intersecting said bore in an interlaced staggered relation with respect to said third plurality of conduits, wherein the centerlines when extended of said fourth plurality of conduits intersect with the centerlines when extended of said second plurality of conduits.

7. A module as claimed in claim 6 further comprising (c) a first end plate adapted to frictionally fit within said first passageway and adapted to mate with one end of said static agitator means, said end plate having a shank with an outer diameter to mate with said central bore of said agitator means and with an inner diameter sufiicient to retain liquid and guide wire; and

(d) a second end plate adapted to frictionally fit within said first passageway and adapted to mate with the other end of said static agitator means, said second end plate having a shank with an outer diameter to mate with said central bore of said agitator means and with an inner diameter sufficient to retain liquid and guide wire.

8. A module as claimed in claim 6 further comprising (c) a first plug, having an orifice therethrough for the passage support and guidance of wire, adapted to mate with said wire inlet of said housing; and

(d) a second plug, having an orifice therethrough for the passage, support, and guidance of wire, adapted to mate with said wire outlet of said housing; and wherein said housing further comprises a reservoir within said second passageway located between the intersection of said passageways and said liquid outlet, a first shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and said wire inlet with said reservoir, and a second shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and said wire outlet with said reservoir.

9. A module as claimed in claim 8 further comprising (e) a first end plate adapted to frictionally fit within said first passageway and adapted to mate with one end of said static agitator means, said end plate having a shank with an outer diameter to mate with said central bore of said agitator means and with an inner diameter sufiicient to retain liquid and guide wire; and

(f) a second end plate adapted to fractionally fit within said first passageway and adapted to mate with the other end of said static agitator means, said second end plate having a shank with an outer diameter to mate with said central bore of said agitator means and with an inner diameter sufiicient to retain liquid and guide wire.

10. In combination,

(a) a first module including a housing having a first passageway therethroug'h for the passage of wire, said first passageway having a first wire inlet and a first wire outlet, and a conduit therethrough for the passage of a first liquid, said conduit having a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet; and a first static agitating means located within said first passageway and adapted to cooperate with liquid fiow through said conduit;

( b) a second module including a second housing having a second passageway therethrough for the passage of wire, said second passageway having a second wire inlet and a second wire outlet, and a second conduit therethrough for the passage of a second liquid, said second conduit having a second liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet; and a second static agitating means located within said second passageway and adapted to cooperate with liquid flow through said second conduit; and

(c) means for joining said first and second modules together whereby wire is adapted to pass through said first wire inlet, said first wire outlet, said second wire inlet, and said second wire outlet, in the order named, said first and second static means including staggered conduits having radial input and output passageways wherein the radial input passageways are arranged at an angle and the radial output passageways are arranged at a further angle orthogonal to the input passageways.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said static agitator means comprises an H-shaped member having two ends joined by a crossbar and having a central bore therethrough,

each of said ends being formed in a rnanner to frictionally fit within said first passageway said crossbar having top and bottom parallel surfaces;

a first plurality of radial conduits aligned along said top surface of said crossbar, extending to said central bore, forming a 45 angle clockwiSe with a direction normal to said top surface, as viewed from one of said ends;

a second plurality of radial conduits aligned along said top surface of said crossbar, extending to said central bore, forming a 45 angle counterclockwise with said direction normal, said second plurality of conduits intersecting said bore in an interlaced staggered relation with respect to said first plurality of conduits;

a third plurality of radial conduits aligned along said bottom surface of said crossbar, extending to said central bore, forming a 135 angle clockwise with said direction normal, wherein the centerline when extended of said third plurality of conduits intersect with the centerlines when extended of said first plurality of conduits;

a fourth plurality of radial conduits aligned along said bottom surface of said crossbar, extending to said central bore, forming a 135 angle counter-clockwise with said direction normal, said fourth plurality of conduits intersecting said bore in an interlaced staggered relation with respect to said third plurality of conduits, wherein the centerlines when extended of said fourth plurality of conduits intersect with the centerlines when extended of said second plurality of conduits; and wherein each of said modules, respectively, further comprises (d) a first plug, having an orifice therethrough for the passage, support, and guidance of wire, adapted to mate with said wire inlet of said housing;

(e) a second plug, having an orifice therethrough for the passage, support, and guidance of wire, adapted to mate with said wire outlet of said housing; and wherein said housing further comprises a reservoir within said second passageway located between the intersection of said passageways and said liquid outlet, a first shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and said wire inlet with said reservoir, and a second shunt conduit joining said first passageway intermediate said intersection and said wire outlet with said reservoir;

(f) a first end plate adapted to frictionally fit within said first passageway and adapted to mate with one end of said static agitator means, said end plate having a shank with an outer diameter to mate with said central bore of said agitator means and with an inner diameter suflicient to retain liquid and guide wire; and

(g) a second end plate adapted to frictionally fit Within said first passageway and adapted to mate 'with the other end of said static agitator means, said second end plate having a shank with an outer diameter to mate with said central bore of said agitator means and with an inner diameter sufficient to retain liquid and guide wire.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1957 Great Britain.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner. 

